What Happened on the First Episode of ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’?

Lauren Novak September 4, 2025

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, Lucy Lawless, 'Altared States,' (Season 1, Episode 19, aired Apr 2, 1996), 1995-2001. — Geoffrey Short/Universal Television/Courtesy: Everett Collection

When Xena: Warrior Princess premiered on September 4, 1995, it was truly unlike anything else on TV. Xena, played by Lucy Lawless, debuted as a villain on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, in which Kevin Sorbo played the mythical muscleman. Though producers had originally planned to kill off Xena at the end of her three-episode story, fans wanted more; so instead, Lawless was given her own spin-off show, which began with the episode “Sins of the Past.”

The episode begins with Xena burying her weapons, literally trying to leave her violent past behind. She had been a warlord, feared and despised, but during her Hercules story, she decided to change her ways, and now she wants to turn toward redemption. Her first steps take her back to her home village, Amphipolis, but her mother, Cyrene, greets her with anger and doesn’t allow her to stay. This sets Xena off on a quest to help protect others.

She soon crosses paths with a village under attack, and it’s here that we meet Gabrielle, the spirited young woman who would soon become her companion. Gabrielle, played by Renee O’Connor, is introduced as a talkative farm girl with more courage than fighting skill, and she sees in Xena not just a warrior but someone who could teach her a bigger way of living. Their bond begins almost instantly, with Gabrielle following Xena despite warnings that it’s dangerous. Their dynamic becomes the heart of the show.

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, (from left): Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, 'A Day In The Life', (Season 2, aired Feb. 17, 1997), 1995-2001.

Universal Television/Everett Collection

The climax of the episode puts Xena right back into battle, despite her wish to turn away from violence. She saves the city of Potidaea from the warlord Draco, and by the end of the episode, Gabrielle chooses to travel with her, and together they set off on a new adventure.

Looking back now, “Sins of the Past” feels almost modest compared to where the series would go, with gods, monsters and epic storylines that stretched across time, but it set up the story and sparked Xena’s redemption. Ultimately, the show went on for six seasons. Do you remember watching this for the first time? Who is your favorite character in the series?

You can stream it now on Amazon Prime Video.